Belt-pulley.



P. E. MEIGS.

BELT PULLEY.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE6,1911.

1 ,O42,583 Patented Oct. 29, 1912.

Z SHEETS-SHEET lv COLUMBIA PLANOGRAFH 60.. WASHINGTON. D, c

FRANK E. MEIGS, OF BURLINGTON, VERMONT.

BELT-PULLEY.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 29, 1912.

Application filed June 6, 1911. Serial No. 631,572.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, FRANK E. MEIGS, a citizenof the United States, and resident of Burlington, in the county ofChittenden and State of Vermont, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Belt-Pulleys, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to belt pulleys for shafting, particularly toidle pulleys onto which drive belts are shifted and carried when it isdesired to stop the operation of machinery driven by them.

The object of the invention is to provide an idle pulley or belt carrierrotatably mounted adjacent a fixed pulley, but not on the shaft of saidpulley, which can be moved out of line or rocked on an axisperpendicular to a line connecting the axes of the driving and drivenpulleys, and also to the axis of the driving shaft, for the purpose ofautomatically shifting the drive belt from the idle pulley or carrieronto the fixed pulley and from the fixed pulley onto the idle pulley.The construction is such that the belt and idle pulley will both remainat rest during the time the belt is on said pulley, and as the pulley isnot mounted to turn on the said shaft there is no friction or wearbetween said parts.

In the particular form of the device herein shown and described when thebelt is on the idle pulley or carrier it may be automatically shifted tothe fixed pulley by rocking or moving said idle pulley out of line,whereupon the belt which is wider than said idle pulley engages by itsoverlapping edge, the said rotating fixed pulley and immediately drawsthe belt thereon in a manner well known. The belt may be moved from thefixed pulley onto the idle pulley by swinging the latter in the oppositedirection, or, as represented in the drawing, by means of an ordinarybelt shifting mechanism shown placed in juxtaposition to the drivenpulley and shaft.

With these and other objects in view the invention consists of a novelconstruction, combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter describedin detail, and pointed out in the appended claims, reference being hadto the accompanying drawings, in which,

Figure 1 is an edge view of a fixed and idle pulley, a portion of thelatter being broken away to show the internal construction, Fig. 2 is anelevation of the same viewed from the right hand side of Fig. 1, Fig. 3is an elevation of the improved idle pulley fro-1n the opposite sideshown in connection wit-h the driven mechanism, and means for shiftingthe belt and rocking the idle pulley or throwing it out of line. Fig. 4is a top plan view of the same, Fig. 5 is a plan view showing the idlepulley moved out of line or rocked for the purpose of shifting the belttherefrom onto the fixed pulley. Fig. 6 is an elevation looking in thedirection of the arrow A, Fig. 8. Fig. 7 illustrates a modification.

Similar reference characters are used to designate the same parts in allthe figures.

In the drawings, the numeral 10 designates a driving shaft journaled insuitable bearings and carrying a fixed pulley 11, adj acent which pulleyand normally concentric therewith is an idle pulley 12 of the samediameter, rotatable around the shaft 10, but wholly disconnectedtherefrom. A driven shaft 13 mounted in suitable bearings carries afixed pulley 14: and a loose pulley 15 of the usual type and is rotatedby a belt 16, connecting the fixed pulleys 11 and 14:.

The idle pulley 12 forming the subject matter of this application,comprises a rim 17, preferably flanged on its outer edge and a hub 18 oflarge diameter connected to the rim by a web, spokes, or any other wellknown means. Within the hub 18 is a nonrotatable annular bearing 19around which the pulley may revolve on anti-fricti0n devices of anyapproved type between the said hub and bearing. A ring 20 situatedwithin the bearing 19 and spaced therefrom a suitable distance is formedwith an inwardly projecting flange 21, in the plane of rotation of saidwheel by means of which flange the ring is rigidly bolted to a fixedsupport, such as a plate 22 attached to one of the shaft bearings,illustrated in Figs. 1 and 3, or to an independent support 23, as inFig. 7. Screwed radially into the ring 20 or into lugs 24:, projectinginwardly from said ring on diametrically opposite sides, are two bolts25, their exteriorly pro ecting ends being seated in holes ordepressions in the inner face of the annular bearing 19 to form pivotson which the said bearing and idle pulley 12 may be thrown out of lineor rocked laterally to and from the adjacent fixed pulley 11 on eitherside of the axis of said bolts or pivots. The axial opening 26 in thering 20 is sutticiently large to permit the shaft 10 to extendtherethrough without touching the heads of the pivot bolts 25, whichproject into said OPGIllDg.

If desired some suitable means may be employed for shifting the beltfrom the fixed pulley onto the idle pulley or carrier and simultaneouslyrocking or tilting the annular bearing 19 to bring the rim of the idlepulley or belt carrier 12 into contact with the fixed pulley forautomatically transferring the belt thereon, as for instance, that shownin Figs. 3 and at. AS shown in said figures, 3O designates a lever foroperating a rod 31 carrying fingers 32 between which the belt runs andby which the belt may be changed from one pulley on, the driven shaft tothe other in well known manner. Supported in suitable bearings is a rockshaft 33 provided with an arm 34- on one end by means of which it may berocked by hand, either independently, or simultaneously with theshifting lever by pivoting a connecting rod 35 to said lever and arm. Onthe opposite end of the rock shaft 33 is fixed a disk, crank, orequivalent means 36 connected by a link 37 to the annular bearing 19 insuch manner that on turning said rock shaft the hearing will swing onits pivots 25 and throw the idle pulley 12 out of line and into contactat one side with the fixed pulley 11, as in Fig. 5. The belt 16 is widerthan the idle pulley 12 and projects over its side adjacent the fixedpulley, so that when said pulley is tilted, the edge of the belt willengage the rotating fixed pulley and be drawn thereon in a manner wellunderstood. After the belt has left the idle pulley 12 it may bereturned to normal. position by a reverse movement of arm 34 if it benot connected to the shifting lever 30, but should it be so connected,the idle pulley will be straightened when the shifting lever is operatedto throw the belt oil the fixed pulley The idle pulley 12 not beingmounted on the driving shaft, nor connected with it in any way willrotate for a short period only when the belt is being shifted onto andoff the same, thus saving the belt and pulleys from the wear ofcontinuous running and a so lessening the danger of accidents alwayspresent where there are running belts.

Among other advantages gained by the use of this idle pulley or beltholder may be mentioned a large saving in oil and time taken for oilingand repairs, no danger of fire caused by overheated loose pulleys, asaving in power because belt and pulleys do not run when the drivenmachine is not in use; the strain on the driving shaft is also lessened,belts may be run tighter, consequently giving more power as there is nodanger of grinding out or heating loose pulleys, This device may also beused in place of a clutch when it is desired to connect a other andparallel line of shatting that is used only occasionally.

It is to be understood that the particular means shown and described forswinging the annular bearing are only illi'lstrative, as

within the same without drawing it endwise.

Having thus fully described my invention I claim 1. In combination witha pulley, a rocking bearing around which said pulley rotates and withwhich it rocks, and fixed pivotal supports for said bearing within theperimeter of the pulley in line with each perpendicular to the axialline of the pulley.

2. In combination with a pulley, a bearing supporting said pulley andaround which it is adapted to rotate, and a fixed member within saidbearing on which the latter and the pulley are adapted to rock about anaxis perpendicular to the axis of the pulley.

3. In combination with a pulley, a rocking bearing on which said pulleyis mounted to rotate, fixed pivots on which said bearing rocks disposedin line with each other perpendicular to the axis of the pulley, andwithin the perimeter of said rocking bearing.

e'l. In combination with a pulley, a rocking bearing around which said.pulley is adapted to rotate, a fixed member within said rock fingbearing, and pivots projecting from-opmember on which the posite sidesof said bearing may rock, said pivots being within the perimeter of thebearing and perpendicular to its axis i 5. The combination with a fixedpulley, of an idle pulley adjacent said fixed pulley, a rocking bearingon which said idle pulley is adapted to rotate wholly within theperimeter of the idle pulley, a fixed member within the rocking bearing,and oppositely disposed pivots on the fixed member on which the rockingbearing is supported, the axes of said pivots being perpendicular to andintersecting the axis of the fixed pulley.

6. An idle pulley, a rocking bearing on which said pulley is rotatablymounted, and relatively fixed pivots within the perimeter of said pulleysupporting said bearing.

An idle pulley, a rocking bearing on which said pulley is rotatablymounted, relatively fixed pivots within the perimeter of said pulleysupporting said bearing, and

means for rocking said bearing to throw said pulley out of line.

8. An idle pulley, an annular rocking bearing on which said pulley isrotatably mounted, a fixed member Within said annular bearing, andpivots mounted in said fixed member for supporting said annular bearing.

9. In a device of the character described, a fixed annular member,relatively fixed pivots mounted. in said fixed. member, a nonrotatablebearing surrounding said fixed member and mounted to rock upon saidpivots, and an idle pulley rotatably sup ported on said bearing.

10. In a device of the character described, a fixed annular member,adjustable and removable pivots mounted in said fixed member, an annularrocking bearing surrounding said fixed member and supported on saidpivots, and an idle pulley rotatably supported on said bearing.

11. An idle pulley, a non-rotatable annular bearing on which said pulleyis rotatably mounted, relatively fixed pivots within the perimeter ofsaid pulley supporting said bearing whereby said bearing and pulley areadapted to rock on an axis con tained Within the perimeter of saidpulley, and means for rocking said bearing to throw said pulley out ofline.

12. In combination With a shaft, and a fixed pulley on said shaft, anidle pulley coaxial With said fixed pulley, an annular rocking bearingon Which said idle pulley is rotatably mounted, and relatively fixedpivots Within the perimeter of said idle pulley supporting said bearing.

13. In combination With a shaft, and a fixed pulley on said shaft, anidle pulley coaxial With said fixed pulley, an annular rocking bearingon Which said idle pulley is rotatably mounted, a fixed member Withinsaid annular bearing, and pivots mounted in said fixed member forsupporting said bearmg.

Signed at Burlington, in the county of Chittenden, and State of Vermontthis 26th day of May, A. D. 1911.

FRANK E. MEIGS.

Witnesses:

H. T. BUTTER, A. E. J URY.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C.

